Rolling, Rolling, Rolling: Keep Your Joints in Motion
By Stephen R. Farris
Do you ever feel tired and sluggish?
It could be your body telling you something needs to change. Maybe you're spending too much time working and less time taking care of yourself. You've probably heard it time and time again that we've become a society of gadgets. Cell phones, notebooks, home computers and the internet have made us lazy, more than any of the generations before us.
The fact is, we all need exercise and good nutrition in our daily routine to maintain our health. But let's focus more on exercise, especially for both the younger and older generations. Here are a few helpful tips to get started and get moving.
Kids and Teens: Being Active Inside and Outside is Good
For many of us, growing up and playing outside helped us learn things such as running, climbing, hiking, and numerous other activities. Most of us were limited as to how much television we could watch, too. Children 3 to 5 should get at least three hours of physical activity per day, while pre-teens and teens need to average one hour per day combining intensity workouts and aerobic exercise. Walking, running, swimming, and playing sports are encouraged in order to keep the heart rate up.
10 Minutes Several Times Per Day is a Start
Moving more frequently and sitting less is much better than no activity at all. A good range for adults is anywhere from 150 to 300 minutes a week, whether it's walking, running or two-stepping on the dance floor. The point is, keep moving. It can help decrease your chances of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other diseases associated with inactivity.
Older Adults: Keep on Moving
It's very important that older adults maintain some form of physical activity. While some may have limited movement due to health conditions, injury, etc., the goal is to start slow with the activity you choose and gradually increase it. A good example comes from my own personal experience as I witnessed an 85-year-old co-worker -- who recently had hip surgery -- that could literally run circles around me at our job. On top of that, when her shift was over she headed to a local church activity center to walk laps before completing her day and heading home. Her advice to me, "keep moving."
A good start would be to seek out a local chiropractor who could offer tips for exercise, nutrition, and make adjustments to your spine and joints so exercising may be less stressful to your body.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Rockford, Ill.